Diesel algae issue ?

[Strummer]

Changed my fuel filter few minutes ago . Looks like it has some kind of slime if algae . What is the best fuel treatment to prevent this ?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Ask if they are selling you bio diesel. One bulk plant tried that. Messed up a lot of side by sides. We have never had that problem. We fill log loaders, tractors, SKidders, dozers, SKid steers, back hoes, Trac hoes, tractors... Never have I had such a problem.

 

[mrmikey]

What is the best fuel treatment to prevent this

Since the diesel bugs live in the area where moisture and fuel meet you have to get rid of one or the other, water being the best choice . A dose of an algicide will take care of anything forming.
Keep your tank full to prevent formation of moisture. If you can keep the moisture out, you won't have a problem, also as Roustabout said, don't use the bio diesel, use actual out of the ground diesel not recycled french fries.
As for getting rid of it, you leave one microscopic bit of that crap behind and it'll regrow. I'd dump the fuel and clean the complete fuel system from tank to injectors. If you want to try an algicide instead, be aware that when it kills the diesel bugs you're going to be changing filters to remove the carcasses.

 

[WinterDeere]

You didn't post your location, but if you have a marina or marine dealership anywhere near you, they'll have diesel biocide additives. This is a very common problem on boats with diesel engines.

 

[LouNY]

Try and find a good algaecide for diesel,
I've had success with Biobor and Kellem. I did go with a bit heavier then recommended dose.
I dosed the fuel that was in the tanks, the fuel in our storage tanks, and then as the tractors got refueled they got dosed again. Some of them went through several filters getting all the crap out of the tank and the worst one we had to blow back through the fuel lines a few times.
As far as I'm concerned the ones blaming bio diesel are wrong. The two worst tractors after having gone through several tanks of dosed fuel and filter sets, I filled them with B20 (in the summer) that was what finally got the tanks and lines cleaned out. Most bio diesel is a long ways from recycled french fry oil. All though I do know a couple of young guys that are running grease trucks quite sucessfully, more so in warm weather it's considerable work in cold weather.
We apparently got some compromised fuel several years ago delivered to us. It was a job getting several engines straightened back out.
Also had it happen to a few large diesel backup generators at my full time work years ago 300 and 350 KW units.

 

[5030]

Lou... My algae issue started when I was using B20 in my pickup truck so I quit entirely. I believe the algae issue comes about when fuel is sitting in metal tanks that aren't full and get condensation on the inside and the water mixes in and causes the algae to grow. I also believe the best preventive cure is using a Certified biocide, one that comes with the mandatory EPA caution label. That and keeping your fuel tanks topped off when the tractors are sitting for a long period of time. My 'bout' with the algae cost me over a grand in replacement parts and I did all the work myself.

 

[5030]

Changed my fuel filter few minutes ago . Looks like it has some kind of slime if algae . What is the best fuel treatment to prevent this ?
View attachment 767303

That is the stuff and it stinks too. I use Bio-Kleen biocide myself.

 

[Strummer]

Lou... My algae issue started when I was using B20 in my pickup truck so I quit entirely. I believe the algae issue comes about when fuel is sitting in metal tanks that aren't full and get condensation on the inside and the water mixes in and causes the algae to grow. I also believe the best preventive cure is using a Certified biocide, one that comes with the mandatory EPA caution label. That and keeping your fuel tanks topped off when the tractors are sitting for a long period of time. My 'bout' with the algae cost me over a grand in replacement parts and I did all the work myself.

My tanks is plastic. All the places around me claim 10% bio fuel . Looks like I’m going to get me an account at the coop and get red fuel .

 

[Strummer]

You didn't post your location, but if you have a marina or marine dealership anywhere near you, they'll have diesel biocide additives. This is a very common problem on boats with diesel engines.

I’m in South Tx . On the coast about half way between Houston and Corpus .

 

[big bubba]

My tanks is plastic. All the places around me claim 10% bio fuel . Looks like I’m going to get me an account at the coop and get red fuel .

in a way it's like choosing ethanol free fuel, get unadulterated diesel w/o bio from a reputable high volume diesel. i get my diesel from a regular high volume get & go.

You raise a good question though...does the vendor have to state the % of bio in their diesel like gas does with ethanol? i've also noticed that many fuel treatments (i use Optilupe) do not include an algecide...so you'll prob have to add that alone to solve your problem. regards

 

[ericm979]

I have been using biocide for years and I still get gunk growing in my 5 gal plastic tanks. The best way I found to clean them out is with soap and high pressure water. I'm hoping that I will not have to drop the tractor's tank and clean it too.

 

[mrmikey]

I have been using biocide for years ......

At least you can get biocide. I went looking ( I live in Nova Scotia) a couple of years ago for an algicide as a pre-emptive measure for my tractor as I don't use it a lot therefore it sits and doesn't go thru a lot of fuel. Nada, can't find it in NS, if you find it online it either won't ship or you have to get a second mortgage to buy it.

 

[m1garand762]

My tanks is plastic. All the places around me claim 10% bio fuel . Looks like I’m going to get me an account at the coop and get red fuel .

It doesn’t matter the co-op doesn’t have a refinery. My co-op bounces between marathon and bp fuel every load they can’t guarantee the percentage of bio but state it’s a variable between b3 and b20

 

[5030]

Why anyone runs on road ULSD is beyond me. In this state (Michigan), off road red diesel is exempt from road use tax so it's always about 45 cents a gallon less than on road. None of it's cheap today (and I'm not getting into that because politics are a big no here) but suffice to say, I just dropped 400 gallons of off road red in my bulk tank to the tune of $4.99 a gallon. You do the math, I just hand over my credit card... Also, I don't suspect it will get any cheaper, will most likely increase in price. This economy and all the goods and services you get basically runs on diesel fuel. Don't take an Einstein to figure out why inflation is what it is...

 

[m1garand762]

Why anyone runs on road ULSD is beyond me. In this state (Michigan), off road red diesel is exempt from road use tax so it's always about 45 cents a gallon less than on road. None of it's cheap today (and I'm not getting into that because politics are a big no here) but suffice to say, I just dropped 400 gallons of off road red in my bulk tank to the tune of $4.99 a gallon. You do the math, I just hand over my credit card... Also, I don't suspect it will get any cheaper, will most likely increase in price. This economy and all the goods and services you get basically runs on diesel fuel. Don't take an Einstein to figure out why inflation is what it is...

I agree I only use red in equipment $4.99is a little steep on road I’d $4.69 at the pump here red is around $4.19 to4.39 depending on where I go

 

[dodge man]

I really can’t get off road diesel here. As far as I know there is one place that sells it. Unfortunately their setup is for filling large tanks so they won’t fill 5 gallon cans since it comes out of the nozzle so quickly.

 

[5030]

I really can’t get off road diesel here. As far as I know there is one place that sells it. Unfortunately their setup is for filling large tanks so they won’t fill 5 gallon cans since it comes out of the nozzle so quickly.

Every dispensing nozzle I've seen can be throttled back. I get my ORD at a local farm supply outlet and yes it has a high volume nozzle as well but I can still throttle it back.

 

[5030]

Something to keep in mind when dosing any storage or tractor fuel tank with a biocide like Bio-Kleen is that it will kill the microbial algae but the 'remains' of the microbes 'exoskeletons' remain so they will still clog fuel filters and strainers in the fuel system and must be cleaned (and filters changed), most likely numerous times, depending on the severity of the algae growth. All a biocide does is it stops new growth, the old, dead stuff is still in there.

 

[dodge man]

5030, what the place that sells off road diesel is really saying they don’t want to mess with 5 gallon cans. It’s called FS and they probably most deal with people that buy 100 gallons or more at a time.

 

[Strummer]

Something to keep in mind when dosing any storage or tractor fuel tank with a biocide like Bio-Kleen is that it will kill the microbial algae but the 'remains' of the microbes 'exoskeletons' remain so they will still clog fuel filters and strainers in the fuel system and must be cleaned (and filters changed), most likely numerous times, depending on the severity of the algae growth. All a biocide does is it stops new growth, the old, dead stuff is still in there.

I’m going to pick me up about 1/2 a dozen filters . They are cheap. I treated my tank yesterday., just haven’t ran it yet .